Kauṣītaki (Śāṅkhāyana) Brāhmaṇa 2.3

2.3.1

dvir udīcīm srucam udyacchati /

Twice he raises the ladle towards the north.

2.3.2

rudram eva tat svāyām diśi prītvā avasṛjati / (agnihotra)

Having pleased Rudra in his own quarter, he lets it down.

2.3.3

tasmādd hūyamānasya uttarato na tiṣṭhet /

Therefore one should not stand to the north of what is being offered,

2.3.4

na id etasya akhilasya devasya pariprādhve asāni iti / (agnihotra)

lest [one think]: "May I not be in the pathway of this whole [mighty] god!"

2.3.5

tām uttarataḥ sāyam upamārṣṭi pratīcīm /

In the evening he wipes [the ladle] on the north towards the west;

2.3.6

ādityam tad astam nayati /

thereby he leads the sun to its setting.

2.3.7

dakṣiṇata ūrdhvām prātaḥ / (agnihotra)

In the morning [he wipes it] on the south upwards;

2.3.8

ādityam tad unnayati /

thereby he leads the sun upward.

2.3.9

yat pūrvam upamārṣṭi tat kūrce nilimpati /

What he wipes off first, that he smears on the grass-bundle;

2.3.10

oṣadhīs tena prīṇāti / (agnihotra)

thereby he pleases the plants.

2.3.11

yad dvitīyam tad dakṣiṇena kūrcam uttānam pāṇim nidadhāti /

What [he wipes off] the second time, he places with an upturned hand to the south of the grass-bundle;

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.12

pitṝṃs tena prīṇāti / (agnihotra)

thereby he pleases the fathers.

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.13

atha yad dṣip pradeśinyā prāśnāti /

Now, that he consumes [some] twice with the forefinger:

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.14

garbhān pūrveṇa prīṇāti /

with the first he pleases the embryos;

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.15

tasmād anaśnanto garbhāḥ prāṇanti / (agnihotra)

therefore embryos breathe without eating.

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.16

vayāṃsy uttareṇa /

[He pleases] the birds with the second;

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.17

tasmād vayāṃsi bahu kiṃca kiṃcid iva bhakṣayanti śvetam iva prasrāvayanti / (agnihotra)

therefore birds eat a great deal of little bits, as it were, and discharge whitish matter, as it were.

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.18

atha yat srucā bhakṣayati /

Now, that he consumes with the ladle:

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.19

bhūtam ca tena bhavyam ca prīṇāti / (agnihotra)

thereby he pleases what has been and what is to be.

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.20

atha yat srucam nirleḍhi /

Now, that he licks the ladle clean:

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.21

sarva deva janāṃs tena prīṇāti /

thereby he pleases all classes of gods.

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.22

atha yat srucam mārjayate /

Now, that he cleanses the ladle:

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.23

rakṣo deva janāṃs tena prīṇāti / (agnihotra)

thereby he pleases the demon-classes of gods.

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.24

atha yat prācīru udīcīr apa utsiñcati /

Now, that he pours water towards the north-east:

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.25

gandharva apsarasas tena prīṇāti /

thereby he pleases the Gandharvas and Apsarases.

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.26

atha yat prācīm udīcīm srucam uddiśati / (agnihotra)

Now, that he points the ladle towards the north-east:

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.27

rudram eva tat svāyām diśi dadhāti /

thereby he places Rudra in his own quarter.

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.

2.3.28

evam agnihotreṇa sarvāṇi bhūtāni prīṇāti / (agnihotra)

Thus, by means of the Agnihotra, he pleases all beings.

(he rubs) the second time, he lays down his outstretched hand to the south of the mat; thereby he delights the fathers. In that he twice eats by means of his forefinger, with the first he delights foetuses; therefore though not eating, foetuses draw breath; with the second birds; therefore birds eat very multifarious matter as it were, but exude what is white as it were. In that he eats with the offering ladle, thereby he delights what has been and what will be. In that he licks the offering ladle, thereby he delights the serpents, the god folk. In that he cleanses the offering ladle, thereby he delights the Rakṣases, the god folk. In that he pours forth the waters to east and north, thereby he delights the Gandharvas and the Apsarases. In that he directs the offering ladle to east and north, verily thus he places Rudra in his own quarter; thus with the Agnihotra he delights all creatures.